Life & Work with Paisley Zerr of STUDIO CITY

Today we’d like to introduce you to Paisley Zerr.

Hi paisley, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I landed in L.A. at the ripe age of 18, wide-eyed and armed with nothing but a suitcase full of ambition and absolutely no connections. What I did have was this gut-deep knowing: I was meant to be here.
The dream? Film. The plan? Vaguely defined. The spirit? Unbreakable. I wanted to tell stories—big ones, small ones, beautiful messy ones—and I wanted to do it through a camera lens.
Fast forward through thirteen years of hustle, heartbreak, and many wild celebrity encounters on set and here I am: the founder of a small (but mighty!) production company, and a working cinematographer. That last part still gives me chills. Because this city doesn’t hand out dream jobs—it makes you earn them, often while holding a boom mic in one hand and a coffee in the other.
Has it been hard? Absolutely. The price of chasing your dream is often measured in miles from family, missed birthdays, and homesick holidays. But the reward? Creating art that moves people, working with incredible creatives, and waking up excited to do it all over again.
L.A. hasn’t just been a city to me—it’s been a teacher, a challenger, and an unexpected best friend. And while I’m still very much in the middle of this wild ride, one thing’s certain: I didn’t give up, and I won’t.
Because the dream is still calling. And I’m still answering.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
One of the toughest parts of starting out in L.A. was navigating the chaos of a huge, fast-moving city without knowing a single soul. With no roadmap, no mentors, and a sea of distractions around every corner, it was easy to feel lost. As a teenager, the temptations were loud—parties, quick thrills, the glittery illusion of overnight success. Staying focused on the dream took real discipline. There were moments I veered off track, no doubt, but each time I reminded myself why I came here in the first place. Re-centering, re-committing, and choosing the long road over the easy detour—that’s what’s kept the dream alive.
Adding to the challenge was being a woman in a male-dominated industry. I can’t count how many times I was mistaken for a PA, a script supervisor, or someone’s assistant—anything but the DP. I had to work twice as hard just to be seen, to be taken seriously, and to prove that I belonged behind the camera. The assumptions were frustrating, but they also fueled my fire. Every set I stepped onto became a chance to challenge stereotypes, earn respect through craft, and make space for more women to do the same.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
At my core, I’m a cinematographer—storytelling through the lens is where my passion truly lives. But like many in this industry, I wear a lot of hats. Over the years, I’ve worked just about every position on set, from the smallest indie shoots to major productions. That hands-on experience has shaped not only my technical skill, but my deep understanding of the entire filmmaking process.

My portfolio spans a wide range of content—documentaries, commercials, corporate videos, live events, and music videos. I’ve had the chance to shoot for some incredible companies, including MTV, ESPN, The Grammys, Rolling Stone, Live Nation, Guitar Center, and many more. Each project has taught me something new, but where I feel my work—and heart—shine brightest is in documentary filmmaking. There’s something powerful about capturing raw, real moments and bringing out the best in people both on and off camera.

I’ve built a reputation for stretching small budgets into big results, bringing a level of care, creativity, and hustle that elevates every production I’m part of. And if there’s one thing people always say about me—it’s that I bring the spirit.

Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
Something most people don’t know about me? My roots are far from the glitz and grit of Los Angeles. I actually grew up surrounded by a lively crew of farm animals—yes, chickens, sheep, goats, horses, the whole barnyard bunch. While other kids were playing video games, I was out in the fields, feeding animals and learning life lessons from muddy boots and early mornings. That down-to-earth upbringing gave me a grounded perspective I still carry with me on set today.

And here’s a curveball: I was born through a “genius” sperm bank. (Yep, one of those experimental projects from the ’80s and ’90s.) Over the years, I’ve discovered and connected with several half-siblings—some I now call friends—and even met my biological father. It’s a strange and fascinating part of my story, one that continues to unfold in surprising ways. It’s taught me that identity is layered, family is expansive, and life has a funny way of writing its own script.

Pricing:

• N/A (prices vary based on size of the production)

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.paizeproductions.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/paizeproductions/
• Other: https://www.instagram.com/paiseypie

Image Credits
Dante Welch, Ryan Postas, Alessandro Serradimigni